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F. R. GOOLMAN. ELEGTROPNEUMATIO PIANO PLAYER.

Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

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ELEGTROPNEUMATIG PIANO PLAYER.

No. 603,184. Patented Apr. 26,1898.

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P. R. GOOLMAN. ELEGTROPNEUMATIG PIANO PLAYER.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT anion.

FRED R. GOOLMAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHSTO JOHN XVEBER AND JOHN N. GOOLMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTROPN EUMATIC PiANO-PLAYER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,184, dated April26, 1898.

Application filed May 5, 1897. Serial No. 635,105. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it'known that I, FRED R. GOOLMAN, of Los Angeles, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and ImprovedElectric Autopneumatic Piano- Player, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is in the nature of an improved electric autopneumaticpiano-player in which the valves and pneumatics, the metronome, andrerolling devices for the music are set into action by the combined useof electromagnets with suitable circuits and pneumatic appliancesoperating in conjunction therewith; and it consists in the peculiarconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown and described.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the music-drawer, showing the working parts,looking from above. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the working parts ofthe drawer on line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrowand showing the working parts as set in position for playing. Fig. 3 isa rear View of the 2 5 drawer, looking from the back or in the oppositedirection from the arrows in Fig. 1 and showing the mechanism as itappears when the trip is thrown and in position for rewinding themusic-roll. Fig. 3 is a cross- 0 sectional detail on line 3 3 of Fig.Fig. 4:

is a vertical cross-section showing the pianokey bed and center rail 31,key 32, and the operating mechanism under the key-bed and showing thefront of the drawer, which 5 is hinged and made to let down. Fig. 5 aredetails of the inside of the bearing for one end of the music-roll. Fig.6 shows the knob and dial of the starting, stopping, and regulatingmechanism, with a portion of the front of the 1,0 drawer, the lid orfront e of which is let down and recessed immediately opposite the knob,so that it may close over it and conceal it. Fig. 7 is an end view insection of windingdrum K, the air-duct bridge J, music-roll D, 5 trip E,and trip-board F, showing the manner in which the trip E engages themusic sheet in the act of tripping the rerolling device. Fig. 8 is aside view of the electropneumatic air-duct bridge J, with side piece 13and a portion of one side of the block broken away, showing the groovesleading to the holes and recesses 37, the sag-leathers 39, spring 38,and contact-pieces and frame with circuit-wire connections. Fig. 9 is avertical cross-section of the air-duct bridge, showing ducts,sag-leathers 30, springs 38, electric contact-points 4:0, recesses 37,connectingtnbe a2, and exhaust-tube 4 1. Fig. 10 is a cross-section ofthe valve-board, valve-cells, check-valve, and lifting-pneumatic. Fig.11 is a front view of a portion of the valve-board with the coverremoved, showing two of the lifting-pneumatics as in position, with aportionof the metal strip 51 and the holes 47, leading from the valve 71and connecting with lifting-pneumatics B also showing the magnets 70.Fig. 12 is a view of the back of an upright piano, showing the positionof the pumping device and main sustaining-bellows, springs, andconnections. Fig. 13 is a view in section, on line 13 13 of Fig. 12, ofthe main sustainingbellows, showing the manner in which it isconstructed and connected to the air-trunk.

The following is a description of the improvements in my autopneumaticpianoplayer.

To end boards A, A and A Fig. 1, are fastened bottom boards B 13,forming a drawer open at front and back, with a narrow space at theright formed by the boards A and A Between the end boards A and A at theback part of the drawer is placed a rest-board 0, Figs. 2 and 3, onwhich the mechanism rests. This board is raised a short distance fromthe bottom of the drawer to allow the wires from the electric-air-ductbridge to pass under it.

A main shaft 1, Figs. 1 and 3, is provided at one end with a bearing 20on the end of board A and at the other end has a movable bearing P,Figs. 1 and 4. On said shaft is a fixed driving-pulley 2, which receivesmotion from a motor and transmits it to all the working parts in thedrawer. On said shaft 1 is also mounted a sleeve 4, in which the shaftturns freely. On one end of this sleeve is a fixed pulley 3, and on theother end a grooved collar 5. The shaft is also provided with a fixedcollar 6, situated near the end of the sleeve 4. On the other end ofthis shaft is a second sleeve Y, provided with a slot, so that it may bemoved longitudinally, but pre- ICO vented from turning on the shaft bymeans of a pin 12 through the shaft and through the slot in the sleeve.On one end of this sleeve is a fixed collar X, and on the other end isplaced a cone-pulley N, which engages a friction-wheel M. On therest-board 0, Figs. 1 to 3, are a stationary standard Z, a horizontalslide V, a hinged arm T, a spring S, and a fixed block (Z.

The slide V is provided with a lug \V, Fig. 3, and a rack-bar 11. Thehinged arm T is provided at the top with a fork t to engage the groovedcollar 5. Between the arm T and the block d is placed a rod R, which isprovided atone end with a pin 1), Fig. 3, passing into arm T, and at theother end is wedgeshaped (see Fig. 1) and is held in position by aspring S.

On the stationary standard Z are mounted a latch H, Figs. 2 and 3, aspring I, Figs. 1, 3, and 3, and a lever 9. This lever 9 is fulcrumedupon the back of said standard to work in a vertical plane, while thelatch His hinged about a horizontal axis parallel to the shaft 1. Thislatch 11 is secured to one leaf of a hinge which is mounted upon the topof standard Z, and the axis of which hinge is shown at 11 The latch Hhas also an arm or projection H, (see Fig. 3,) which may be pushedbackward by a bar G against the tension of a spring I.

At the back and at the left side is an extension, Fig. 1, to the drawer,for ned by a piece I) and thin board a. The object of this extension isto provide a space for the block 0, to which the movable bearing P isattached. The block 0 (see Fig. 4) is free at the top, so that it maymove slightly backward and forward, swinging on a pin 21 at the bottom.On this block 0 is pivoted the bearing P, in which the cone end of theshaft 1 turns. The pivot 22 is near the bottom, as shown in Fig. 4:,allowing the top to move backward and forward in the same direction withthe block 0, only to a greater extent. On the block 0 (see Fig. 1) arealso journaled the friction-wheel M and pinion L.

On the rest-board O, Figs. 1 and 2, is placed a brass strip 17, and aflat spring 13 is arranged above it and when unrestrained lies fiatagainst the subjacent strip 17. These two parts form the terminals of anelectric circuit controlling the motor, and when the spring 18 is incontact with strip 17 the circuit is complete and the motor is inoperation. A horizontal arm 19 is, however, arranged to turn about avertical axis and extends above the plane of strip 17 and out of contactwith it and into range of engagement with the curved end of the spring18, so that when the arm 19 is swung under the spring 18 it lifts it outof engagement with the subjacent strip and breaks the electric circuit.

The slide V has a notch in it, as shown at 23, Fig. 1., and the slide issecured to the rest-board O byscrews through slots, as shown at 24.

Between the end boards A and A are placed a winding-drum K, aneleetricair-duct bridge J, and a tripping-bar G, Fig. 1, reaching fromthe tripping-board F to the projection 011 the latch H. On the inside atthe front end of board A is placed on the left the bearing for one endof the music-roll D, as shown in detail in Fig. 5. To form this bearing,a plate 33 has at its lower edge a curled flange 31, that receives thepivot of the n1 usic-roll, which pivot is retained by a yielding latch35, pressed toward the curled flange 31 by a spring 36. The other end ofthe music-roll is held in position by means of a short shaft 25, onwhich is a fixed pulley 15, and said shaft has a square hole in the endinto which the square pivot on the music-roll is fitted. In the narrowspace in the drawer formed by boards A and A is placed theregulatingshaft 13, connecting the knob 14, Fig. 1, with pinion 12, Fig.2. The reroll-belt 10, Fig. 1, is also placed in this space.

The drawer is hinged to a rail 71- on the pneumatic-action, as shown inFig. 4K.

The operation of the drawer mechanism is as follows: The pneumaticaction being in place in the piano and the drawerbeing connected belowthe keyboard, when it is desired to insert a music-roll I first let thedrawer down about the hinge on rail 7-1, take a music-roll D, and placethe squared pivot into the square hole in the end of shaft 25, Fig. 1,which is the driving-clutch, and the other pivot (which is round) isinserted into the spring-bearing which is shown and described in Fig. 5.I then pass the end of the music-sheet over the air-duct bridge J, andthe ring with which the sheet is provided is fastened onto the hook 26on the winding-drum K. I then close the drawer and turn the knob 11 tothe left to the point market Start, Fig. 6. This rotates pinion 12, Fig.2, which engages rack 11 and moves the slide V with it to the left. Thenotch in the slide, Fig. 1, strikes the arm 19, moving it from under thespring 18, allowing the spring to strike brass strip 17, closing theelectric circuit, and starting the motor which gives power by means of abelt to pulley 2, which is fixed on shaft 1, rotating it, and which inturn rotates the cone N, which is in engagement with frietion-wheel M,to which pinion L is attached. Said pinion engaging with a gear 7.; onwinding-drum K causes the drum to rotate slowly, winding the music-sheetand drawing it over the air-duet bridge J, and as the perforations inthe sheet pass over and uncover the openings in the air-ductbridge thenotes will be sounded by the pneumatic-action, as hereinafter described.\Vhile the winding and playing of the music-sheet are going on themechanical parts are in positions shown in Fig. 2. The movable arm T isheld in the position shown by the latch II, and the fork '6, being inthe I groove in collar 5, holds it and the sleeve 1-, on which pulley 3is mounted, in the position shown, so that the pin 7 on collar 5 cannotengage pin 8 on fixed collar 6. This admits of the shaft 1 turningfreely in the sleeve at, so that while the driving-pulley 2 and shaft 1are turning forward the pulley 3 and sleeve 4 are turning slowly in theopposite direction, caused by belt 16 and pulley l5 responding to theunwinding of the roll D, for as the music is unwound from the music-rollit turns the pulley 15, which causes the belt 16 to turn the sleeve 4and pulley3, which are perfectly free. hen the music-sheet has all runoff of the roll, a large square hole in the end of the music-sheet (seeFig. 7) as it passes the trip E allows the bend in said trip to passinto the large hole and catch, as shown in Fig. 7, and the sheet beingin motion carries the trip backward, pushing the tripping-board F backon its hinge, which throws the tripping-bar G, Fig. 1, backward, the endof which passes under the projection on latch H, throwing it up, as inFig. 3. This releases the movable arm T, Figs. 2 and 3, which isprovided with a stout spring S, which throws the arm to the left of Fig.2 the moment it is released. The fork t on the arm carries the collar 5and sleeve 4: to the left until the pin on collar 5 engages with pin bon fixed collar 6, and this causes pulley 3 to rotate forward with mainshaft, and the belt 16 drives in reverse direction the reroll-pulley 15,Fig. 1, rewinding the music-sheet on the music-roll. WVhen the arm T isreleased and springs to the left of Fig. 2, (or right of Fig. 3,) itpushes the rod R, and the wedge-shaped end of this rod (see Fig. 1) inpassing under a lug r on block 0 causes the block to move backwardslightly. This disengages pinion L from gear on the winding-drum,allowing it to turn freely backward while music is being rewound, sothat it will be seen that the rewinding is entirely automatic and almostinstantaneous, as all the parts act simultaneously, for by simplythrowing the trip by means of a hole in the music-sheet the latch Hreleases the arm T, the arm moves collar 5 into contact with collar 6and at the same instant disengages pinion L from gear K. The pulley 3drives the rewinding-pulley 15 very rapidly,so that when the sheet isrewound onto the in usic-roll the ring on it slips from the hook on thedrum automatically. lVhen the trip is thrown and the rewinding is goingon, the motor and pumps are still going. Therefore if the airchamberswere not released the music would be played backward at a rapid rate,causing a perfect jumble of sound. I provide for this by means of thelever 9, Fig. 3. When the arm T is released, as described, it pulls thetop end of the lever 9 with it by means of a wire from the lever to aneye 10 on arm T. To the lower end of the lever 9 is attached a wirewhich passes through guides on the action to a vent-valve on theair-chamber, (not shown,) for which I make here no claim, as it is shownin my prior application, Serial No. 605,94at, filed September 15, 1896.'It will be seen that the act of opening this vent-valve relieves theair tension simultaneously with the rerolling. To stop the motor, theknob 14, with dial-markings, is turned to the right till the word Stopcomes to the top. (See Fig. This draws the slide V to the right of Figs.1 and 2. The notch 23 in the slide pulls the arm 19 under the spring 18,lifting it from the strip 17, breaking the electric connection, and themotor stops. At the same time the finger U on the slide comes intocontact with the arm T, pushing it back again until caught by the latchH, and the pins 7 and S are thrown out of engagement, as in Fig. 2,leaving the reroll device free again. At the same time the rod R isdrawn back, allowing block 0 to be thrown back by spring 27, Fig. 1,into its normal position, bringing pinion L into engagement again withgear 7.: on the winding-drum ready for playing again. It will be seenthat when the slide V is moved to the left of Fig. 2 by the knob 14:, asdescribed, the lug \V on it will move the collar X, sleeve Y, and cone Nin the same direction, bringing the larger portion of the cone intocontact with the friction-wheel M. Therefore the end bearing P of theshaft must move laterally to allow the large portion of the cone toengage with wheel M. For this purpose the bearing 1?, Fig. 4:, ispivoted to block 0, as shown in Fig. 4-, and is held in contact byspring Q, keeping a pressure on the bearing which keeps the cone inperfect contact with the friction-wheel all the time and in allpositions.

The object of the cone is to enable the music to be played fast or slow,as required, and the music is numbered to correspond with the numbers onthe dial, so that by turning the knob until the number on the dialindicates the same number that is on the music the speed will beadjusted for that piece.

If at any time it should be desirable to stop and reroll a piece ofmusic before it is played through, turn the knob 14, Fig. 6, to the leftto its extreme limit till the word Off on the dial comes to the top.That will bring the pin h, Fig. 2, on metronome-rod 13 into contact withthe double crank g, Fig. 1, and the upper end of said crank is connectedto the tripping-bar G, so that when the pin 7L strikes the bent foot ofcrank g it throws the end of the tripping-bar G up under the latch H andtrips it the same as if the music had run off and thrown the trip,causing it to reroll at once.

The air-duct bridge J in this improved music-drawer is electropneum aticand is constructed as follows:

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the main body of the block is made of twopieces of hard wood 10 20, one of which, 10', is grooved crosswise, asshown in Fig. 8, and the two pieces are glued together, thus forming ablock with small square d ucts through it with openings at the top, asshown in Fig. 7. The bottoms of said d nets are closed with suitablepieces 20 glued in, as shown in Fig. 9. A system of small IIO holes 20Figs. 8 and 9, are drilled in the sides of the block in such a mannerthat each hole intersects one of the ducts mentioned, and each of thesesmall holes is counterbored with a large bit, forming external recesses,as shown at 37. Over these recesses are glued pieces of valve-leather 39in such a manner that they form flexible diaphragms and will sag or bendin when the pressure of the small springs 38 comes upon them. Thesesprings are arranged on the sides of the block in the spaces between therecesses, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the rounded end will rest on thepiece of leather 39 over the recess. There is a small projection on therounded end of each of these springs which is curved outward, as shownin Fig. 9 at 40. These projections are for the purpose of makingelectrical contact with the frames 73. Said frames are light and made ofmetal and secured to the sides of the air-duct bridge immediately infront of the springs and recesses, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Saidframes are connected to the sides of the air-duct bridge at top andbottom, and at the end are glued narrow pieces of wood 41, as shown inFi 9, forming a frame around the recesses, springs, andcontact-framework. On this ledge or frame so formed are screwed thinboards 43, with gasket-leather between them and the frame to make themair-tight. In this way air-tight chambers are formed on opposite sidesof the air-duct bridge, which chambers are connected together by meansof the tube.42, as shown in Fig. 9. A tube 44 is attached to andcommunicates with a chamber on one side of the air-duct bridge. Thistube leads to and communicates with the vacuum-chambers of the valvemechanism,

the obj ectof this tube being to keep the air eX- hausted from thechambers on the sides of the air-duct bridge. To each of the springs 38is attached an electric wire, said wires passing out of the chambers atconvenient points, being carried back under the winding-drum andrest-board and along rail 74 (see Fig. 4) and pass down each in itsproper order to small magnets on the valve-board, as shown in Figs. 4,8, and 11. Under each of the magnets 70 is placed a small valve 71, Fig.10, coveringtheportoropening47. Thesevalves have an iron top, forming anarmature,so that they may be attracted to the magnet. From such magnet70 one wire :rleads to a battery B and the frame 73 of the air-ductbridge, while the other wire y leads to its contactspring 38, as shownin Fig. 8, so that when contact is closed between 38 and 73 the magnet70 is energized and valve 71 opened. Each wire y passes in its properorder through a hole in the rest-board O and along the rail 74, (seeFig. 4,) a thin board back 29 preventing said wires from coming incontact with the striking-bellows. The action of this electropneumaticair-duct bridge J is very similar to that described in my priorapplication, Serial No. 605,944, filed September 15, 1896, thedifference being that the port 47, leading into the lifting-pneumatic,in the first application was opened by a perforation in the music-sheetpassing the open end of a duct in the air-duct bridge, which opening wasconnected to the port 47 by a small tube, while in the present devicethe port 47 is opened by a small magnet 70, lifting the valve 71, asshown in Fig. 11. The operation is as follows: hen the instrument isstarted to play, the sheet of music begins to move over the air-ductbridge, and as soon as a perforation in the sheet uncovers an opening inthe bridge the air is admitted to one of the recesses 37 (see Fig. 9) ofthe bridge, and the air in the chambers on the sides of the bridge beingexhausted by means of the tube 44 the moment the air is admitted to therecess 37 the suction in the chamberdraws the diaphragm 39 out, liftingthe end of the spring 38, bringingthe point 40 into contact with metalpieces on the frame 73, Figs. 8 and 9. This completes the electriccircuit, causing the magnet '70 to act instantly, lifting the valve 71,Figs. 4 and 11, admitting air to the lifting-pneumatic, which causes thepneumatic B to lift valve 13 exhausting air from striking-bellows Bthrough tube 13 and cansing striking-bellows B to lift a piano-key andsound a note. The instant the perforation passes the opening in theair-duct bridge and an imperforated part covers the opening the spring38, Fig. 9, presses the leather 39 back again into the recess, breakingcontact at 40, and the magnet 70, Fig. 8, releases the valve 71,allowing it to close instantly. It will be seen thatif there were novents in the ducts in the air-duct bridge the leathers 39 over therecesses would have a tendency to be drawn out continuously by thesuction in the vacuum-chamber, for the slight leakage of air through themusic-sheet would allow it to be so drawn out, thereby keeping constantelectrical contact. Therefore in order to let this leather actinstantly,so as to return and re peat rapidly, there is made a smallvent-hole 72, Fig. 9, leading from the ducts into the chambers. Thisallows the air in the duct to become equal in suction or partial vacuumwith that in the vacuum-chamber, so that the moment the opening at thetop of the duct is closed by the music-sheet there is no resist ance tothe spring 38 returning instantly. This action is the samein all theparts of this air-duct bridge, making a perfect and very rapid repeatinginstrument, requiring the slightest amount of air to make it actinstantly, as only enough air is required to fill the small recess.Therefore very small holes can be used in the music-sheet, making itpossible to get a greater range of the keys of the instrument withcomparatively narrow in usicsheets.

The improvement in construction in the valve-boards and vacuum-chambersshown in Figs. 10 and 11 is very important. In my prior application thesmall liftin g-pneumatics h were arranged in long rows on covers placedIIO on the valve-boards, forming air-tight chambers, and all the smalllifting-pneumatics were provided with pins to push up the checkvalves inthe valve-cells on the opposite side of the valve-board. 111 the new andimproved arrangement of the lifting-pneumatics it will be seen that theyare all attached to the valve-board and may be adjusted and regulatedindependent of the cover-board,thereby making it far more convenient toassemble and regulate all parts and test them before the covers are puton, while in the old arrangement, the lifting-pneumatics being on thecovers, when the cover was placed in position on the valve-board it wasimpossible to see any'of the parts, so as to discover if the adjustmentswere perfectly correct, and even after they were regulated any warpingof the thin board on which they were mounted would throw them out ofregulation, and in order to regulate any one of them again the entireset must come off with the cover-board, whereas in this improvedarrangement when once the parts are arranged and regulated theycan neverchange. This new plan of arrangement makes the manufacture moreconvenient, as the parts are interchangeable and may be duplicated, andthe resulting instrument is much more solid and compact.

By reference to Figs. 10 and 11 it will be seen that the board 45 formsthe base upon which all the other parts are mounted. To this board isattached a frame 46, made of hard wood and rabbeted out to form ledgesfor the board 49 of the lifting-pneumatics B to rest upon, as shown inFig. 10. I11 this frame 46 are drilled holes through the top in themanner shown in Fig. 10' at 47,which holes communicate with openings inthe small boards 49, which (see Fig. 11) are made of thin narrow piecesof hard wood of proper length, with two small holes bored through them,one hole near the top and the other near the middle, and reaching fromone hole to the other is a small groove 50. (Shown in Fig. 10.) On theback of the board is glued a piece of thick paper p, which converts thegroove into a duct leading from one hole to the other, leaving theopenings on the front. Around the opening at the top is glued a piece ofsoft leather Z so as to make a tight joint when it is fastened to theledge on the valve-board, with the opening communicating with the hole47, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The manner of securing these pneumaticsto the ledge is by means of a metal strip 51 at the top end. This stripis secured to the ledge by screws between the boards 49, the lower endsof the boards 49 being fastened with screws, as shown in Fig. 11. Inthis arrangement the lifting-pin is attached to the check-valve, asshown in Fig. 10 at 76, instead of to the lifting-pneumatic, as in myprior application, so that any individual cell may be removed andadjusted as tolength without having to remove the cover on thevacuum-chamber.

The action of the lifting-pneumatics and valves is substantially thesame as to work performed as described in my first application, theimprovement being in the construction of parts. In my first applicationit will be seen that the vents for these small liftingpneumatics were onthe top piece of the pueunlatic, just back of the lifting-pin. In thepresent arrangement the vent is placed in the paper strip which is gluedover the groove 50, as seen at in Fig. 11, round punchings being usedfor convenience of regulating the size of the vents, as required.

I will now describe a new pumping device adapted to be placed in anymodern upright piano without having to cut or disfigure the piano in anyway, reference being had to Fig. 12, showing a back view of an uprightpiano. The position as to motor and driving-wheel is the same as in myformer case, the shaft from the main wheel passing back through a smallhole in the sounding-board and having a three-way crank, as shown at 52,and a suitable bearing. The shaft and cranks are so located as to comebetween the end of the piano-frame and the first stanchion, as shown inFig. 12.

The pumping or exhaust bellows are three in number and are constructedas follows: A thin wind-chest 53 is made the proper length to admit ofits standing on the sill of the piano and under the pin-block and ofsuch width that it will not project beyond the back of the instrumentwhen placed in position. To this chest 53 are secured end pieces 54 54and side piece 55, forming a frame of suitable size to fill the spacebetween the stanchions of the piano. On this wind-chest and facing theside board 55 are placed the three exhaustbellows, arranged as shown inFig. 12. On the side piece 55 are secured small pulleys 56, and thecrank wrists are provided with bearings 51, so constructed as to admitround belting to be attached to them. Any suitable cordage or beltingmay be used. The cords are passed up from the cranks and over thepulleys 56 and secured to the swinging ends of the pumping-bellows, eachbellows being provided with a spring 58, which keeps a tension on thecords. As the bellows work by suction only, the pull is always one way,and as the crank pulls and expands the bellows the springs arecompressed, and as the cranks return the springs return the now slackbellows and maintain a tension on the cord, so that in this way there isno noise from working joints or pitmen which have to push and pull. Theexhaust-bellows are provided with check-valves constructed so as to workperfectly noiselessly.

To the air-chamber 53 is secured a block 59, provided with suitableopenings for the purpose of connecting a pipe 60. This pipe leads to themain sustaining-bellows 61, also placed between the stanchions, as shownin Fig. 12. This main bellows is shown in section, Fig. 13, taken online 13 13, Fig. 12,

which section shows the air-trunk 62, safetyvalve 63, interior spring(54, and supportingboard 6'7.

The air-trunk 62 has an opening 68 (shown in dotted lines) for attachinga tube for connecting with the pneumatic-action inside of the piano.

The supplemental spring 66 is intended to be used only where it isdesirable to have the instrument play very lou d, as in public halls,&c. This makes it possible to give the instrument any desired power, toplay loud for large halls or soft for the parlor. The interior springGet is considered sufficient for all ordinary purposes, as theexpression of the instrument is perfectly controlled, as described in myfirst specifications, by the pedalaction. \Vhen the extra orsupplemental spring 66 is not required, its ends may be convenientlydislodged from seats in the top edges of the bellows and again put inposition when required.

The safety valve 63 is provided so that when the pumps have exhaustedthe air in the vacuum-chambers and the sustaining-bellows saidsafety-valve opens slightly in an automatic manner to keep an evenstress all the time. The arrangement for this purpose is very simple andyet very positive. A screw 69 is placed in the moving portion of thebellows in such a position that when the bellows is collapsed the screwpasses through the opening under the valve and lifts it. This allows thebellows to start to open again; but the instant it starts to open thevalve closes again, keeping it up to the same stress all the time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic piano-player, an air-d uct bridge, comprising a blockchanneled with parallel air-ducts, each duct having a lateral openingterminating in an enlarged recess covered by a flexible diaphragm, andelectrical contact-points arranged outside the diaphragm and adapted tobe brought into electrical connection by the bulging or lateral movementof the diaphragm from pneumatic action substantially as described.

2. In an automatic piano-player, an air-duct bridge comprising a blockchanneled with parallel air-ducts, each duct having a lateral openingterminating in an enlarged recess covered by a flexible diaphragm, andalso an independent lateral vent-opening, electrical contact pointsarranged outside the diaphragm and adapted to be closed by the movementof the diaphragm from pneumatic action, and an inclosing board or casingcovering said electrical contacts and also the lateral vent-holes of thechannels, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In an automatic piano-player, an air-d uct bridge comprising a blockchanneled with parallel air-ducts, each duct having a lateral opening 20terminating in an enlarged recess 37 covered by a flexible diaphragm 39and also a vent-opening 72, contact-springs S8 pressing on thediaphragm, metal contactframe 73, and an inclosing casing 43, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In an automatic piano-player, an air-duct bridge comprising a blockchanneled with parallel air-d ucts and having on each side lateralopenings terminating in enlarged recesses covered by flexiblediaphragms, electrical contact points arranged outside the diaphragms,on each side, and arranged to be closed by them, an inclosing-case board43 for each side, and communicating equalizingpipe 42 for connecting thechambers on opposite sides of the channeled block substantially as shownand described.

5. In an automatic piano-playing device,the combination with themusic-drums, and airduct bridge, of a supporting-frame composed ofbottom B and end boards A A A the boards A and A forming an end chamberbeyond the music-drums, a regulating-shaft with operating-knob and arerolling-belt both extending through this end chamber to the back andcombined with mechanism for operating the music-drums substantially asand for the purpose described.

(i. In an automaticpiano-playingdevice,the combination with themusic-drums and airduct bridge, of amain drive-shaft 1 arranged parallelwith the drums and behind them, and having drive-pulley 2, sleeve 4 withrerolling-pulley 3 at one end and clutch mechanism for the shaft at theother, sleeve Y with collar X and cone-pulley N all connected to revolvewith but slide on said shaft, gears connecting the cone-pulley to thewindingdrum, a rerolling- 'inlley l5 and belt 16 for the music-roll, anda shifting device for the two sleeves substantially as shown anddescribed.

7. The combination with the perforated 1nusicsheet, of the tilting boardF hinged at its lower end and carrying at its upper end thetripping-hook E adapted to engage with the perforated music-sheet, thethrust-bar G attached to the tilting board and extending back to therear end of the device and arranged to operate onthemusic-roll-reversing mechanism, whereby the positive dragging actionof the music-sheet is made to reverse the music-roll at any point alongthe music substantially as described.

8. In an automatic piano-playing device,the combination with themusic-drums and airduct bridge, of the main shaft 1 having drivepulley2, the sleeve et with pulley 3 011 one end and clutch on the other end,shifting arm T for the clutch, latch II for the shifting arm, the sleeveY with collar X and cone-pulley N all sliding 011 shaft 1 but locked'torevolve with it, driving-gears connecting the conepulley to theWindingdrums, the horizontal slide V carrying lug 7, finger U, and notch23, a regulating-shaft 13 for operating this slide, and an electricalswitch-arm actuated 1 bearing bellows B and air-duct and seby the slide,substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In an automatic pianoplaying device,the combination with the mainactuating-shaft 1, of the longitudinally-adjustable cone-pulley N, thelaterally-adjustable bearing P for the said shaft, thelaterally-adjustable block 0 connected to bearing P by a pivot andspring and carrying the friction-pulley M and pinion L, and thewinding-drums with gear 7t substantially as shown and described.

10. In an automatic piano-playing device, the combination of the mainshaft 1 having friction cone-pulley N, the adjustable block 0 carryingfriction-pulley M and gear L, the in usic-roll K with gears 70, thebearing Ppivoted to block 0 and carrying one end of the shaft 1, the lugr, springs Q, and 8, rod R with inclined end bearing against the lug,and the hinged shifting arm T, for disengaging-the rotating gears L isto allow the winding-drum to rotate backward during the rerollin g ofthe music substantially as set forth.

11. In an automatic piano-playing device, the combination with themusic-drums, the air-duct bridge, and the actuating devices for thedrums as described, of means for rerolling the music at any point beforethe completion of the piece, comprising a reversing mechanism, aregulating-knob 14 and rod 13 with pin h, double crank g operated uponby said pin by an extreme adjustment of the rod, the trippin g-rod Garranged to be lifted by said crank, and the releasing-latch H arrangedto be lifted by the rod G for unlocking the clutch of the reversingmechanism substantially as shown and described.

12. The music-drawer of the piano-playing device having in one end abearing composed of a plate 33 with flanged and curled bearing 34 andpivoted spring-latch 35, and having at the other end a short shaft 25with revolving pulley and clutch connection for the musicroll drum asshown and described.

13. In a piano-playing device, the pneumatic and its chamber, comprisinga valveboard 45, rabbeted frame 46 with air-duct 47 opening through itstop, pneumatic-boards 49 cured in the rabbet of the frame 46substantially as shown and described.

14. In a piano-playing device the pneumatic, its chamber and valve,comprising a valve-board 45, rabbeted frame 46 with airduct 47 openingthrough its top, pneumaticboards 49 hearing bellows B and air-duct 50secured in the rabbet of the frame, valve 71 with armature back closingthe air-duct 47 and resting on top of frame 46, and the electromagnet 70 operating upon said valve substantially as shown and described.

15. In a piano-playing device, the pneumatic, comprising board 49 withbellows on one side, an open channel 50 on the other side communicatingwith said bellows, and a separate closing-strip 19 applied to the backof board 49 to close in channel 50 and having a vent-hole '75 throughthe same substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. In a piano-playing device, the construction and arrangement of thepneumatic its chambers and valves, consisting of valveboard 45 ,withholes through it rabbeted frame 46 with air-ducts 47 opening through thetop pneumatics secured in the rabbets and communicating with saidair-ducts, and valves 13* placed upon the opposite side of thevalveboard and having pins 76 extending through the holes in thevalve-board to contact with the pneumatics substantially as and for thepurpose described.

17. In a pneumatic piano-playing device, the combination with theupright stanchions in the back of an upright piano, of a windchest 53,54, arranged between said stanchions flush with the backs of the same,pumping-bellows arranged therein and provided with compressing-springs58 and pulleys, and distending-cords for the bellows passing around saidpulleys and connecting with driving mechanism and working noiselesslysubstantially as described.

FRED R. GOOLMAN.

"Witnesses:

JOHN WEBER, G. G. JoHNsoN.

